Safety and Effectiveness of D-Serine in Schizophrenia
Recruitment status was Active, not recruiting
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Purpose
This study will determine whether increasing D-serine within the body will improve negative symptoms and cognitive impairments in people with schizophrenia.
| Condition | Intervention | Phase |
|---|---|---|
|
Schizophrenia |
Drug: D-serine |
Phase 2 |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Allocation: Non-Randomized Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment Masking: Open Label Primary Purpose: Treatment |
| Official Title: | PK/PD Study of Escalating Dose D-Serine as Adjunctive Treatment in Schizophrenia |
- Renal safety measures (serum, UA) [ Time Frame: Measured at Week 4 ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
- Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale (PANSS) [ Time Frame: Measured at Week 4 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) Battery [ Time Frame: Measured at Week 4 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Clinical Global Impression (CGI) [ Time Frame: Measured at Week 4 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
| Estimated Enrollment: | 20 |
| Study Start Date: | March 2006 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | June 2008 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: | June 2008 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Arms | Assigned Interventions |
|---|---|
|
Experimental: A
Participants will receive treatment with D-serine
|
Drug: D-serine
D-serine at following dose levels: 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 120 mg/kg. PK/PD studies done at day 1. Medication will be administered as powder dissolved in liquid given in two divided doses daily for 4 weeks.
|
Detailed Description:
Schizophrenia is a life-long brain disorder affecting approximately 1 percent of Americans each year. Schizophrenia can be extremely disabling, causing people to hear voices, experience paranoia or hallucinations, believe that others are controlling their thoughts, and even fail at maintaining a job or caring for themselves. Current medications help to relieve most of these symptoms, but not all. Some people with schizophrenia still suffer from negative symptoms, such as difficulty with talking, expressing emotions, and motivation; they may also suffer from cognitive impairments, such as decreased concentration and memory loss. D-serine, an amino acid found within the body, activates brain cell receptors that appear to play a role in learning and memory. This study will determine whether adding a D-serine solution to a stable antipsychotic medication regimen will decrease negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
Participants in this open-label study will remain on their regular medication regimen for at least 2 weeks. During this time and before starting treatment, participants will be interviewed about their emotional problems, marital status, education, family background, employment history, and any drug or alcohol problems. Participants will also undergo a physical exam, an electrocardiogram (EKG), vital sign measurements, psychological tests, cognitive tasks, and an electroencephalogram (EEG). Participants will then begin 4 weeks of treatment with D-serine. In addition to participants' regular medication regimen, they will drink a D-serine powder mixed with water twice daily. Every 2 weeks, participants will undergo a physical exam and an interview about any changes in symptoms or emotional problems that they may be experiencing. Blood and urine samples will be taken throughout the study. After 4 weeks, participants will undergo an EKG, EEG, and the same psychological tests and cognitive tasks completed prior to treatment. A follow-up visit will occur 2 weeks post-treatment to monitor any changes in negative symptoms.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 60 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
- PANSS 3 factor negative symptom inclusion score greater than 20 prior to study entry
- PANSS total score between 60 and 110
- Simpson-Angus Scale total score of 12 or less
- Calgary Depression Inventory total score of 10 and suicide score less than 2
- No change in Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Scale score prior to study entry
- Chlorpromazine (CPZ) equivalent of 1500 or less
- Willing to use an effective form of birth control throughout the study if sexually active
Exclusion Criteria:
- High extrapyramidal symptom (EPS) levels
- Began, discontinued, or adjusted psychotropic medication within 2 weeks of study entry
- Taking investigational medication within 2 weeks of study entry
- Contraindication to study medication
- Serious or unstable medical illness
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Alcohol or drug abuse within 6 months of study entry
- Diagnosed with neurodegenerative disease or a seizure disorder
- History of a kidney impairment
- Currently taking clozapine
- Currently taking more than two antipsychotic medications
- Currently taking stimulants or cholinesterase inhibitors
Contacts and Locations| United States, Connecticut | |
| Yale University School of Medicine | |
| New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06512 | |
| United States, New York | |
| The Zucker Hillside Hospital | |
| Glen Oaks, New York, United States, 11004 | |
| The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research | |
| Orangeburg, New York, United States, 10962 | |
| Principal Investigator: | Daniel C. Javitt, MD, PhD | Nathan Kline Institute |
More Information
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | Daniel Javitt, Nathan Kline Institute |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00322023 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | U01 MH074356, DATR A5-EPTD |
| Study First Received: | May 2, 2006 |
| Last Updated: | October 27, 2008 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Food and Drug Administration |
Keywords provided by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):
|
Negative symptoms NMDA Glutamate Glycine |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Schizophrenia Schizophrenia and Disorders with Psychotic Features Mental Disorders |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 23, 2013